RISKY or SAFE?

[crazycanadian]

just wondering if a 1000 watt grow would be safe...1 1000 watt light...2 4ft t5 for vegging (8 plants total)...plus the fans/filters in the 6x6 grow tent for flowering...im about to buy a close on a 3 bdrm house...i work a full time legit job...and keep to myself and have a low profile...im in austin TX...just wondering how safe this would be or if i should be worried about power usage and what not...very conservative with my electrical appliances...and pay all bills on time...thanks!

 

[its trypp]

Rule 1 about growing; federally, marijuana is still an illegal substance. Safety is a very relative term when it comes down to it. However; Consider this; my computers power supply is a 1000w power supply, since I run high end components in it. Thats just a single computer pulling that amount of power. A single 1000w light in a 3 bedroom house will be negligible when looking from the outside in so to speak. 1000w of consumption is fairly easy to explain away, its when you get into the 3000-4000+w grows that power consumption starts seeming iffy.

 

[hush]

At 10¢ per kilowatt hour, for easy math, a 1000w bulb on for 12 hours a day will add about $36 to your monthly bill. That's hardly noticeable. But you have to see how much you pay per kilowatt hour and do the math for yourself.

 

[Dropped Cat]

I used to worry about my 150w.

I think I need to up my wattage.

 

[Snype]

I've ran over 8,000 watts on the grid for many years illegally. No one cares. Just pay your bills. Got 16,000 watts on the grid now illegally. No one cares.

 

[ZZTops]

Only problem I see is TX, hear they are a little ruff on growers...

 

[xxxstr8edgexxx]

you can run a whole lot of thousands before shit gets noticeable. ive blown my neighborhood transformer several times and no one has even said shit.i have a friend who works as an electrical engineer in a mid size city and he said there is no internal policy to investigate or much less start slinging accusations. beyond coffe break chatter weed growing speculation barely even gets talked about amongst the staff. he said as long as you pay your bill and nothing seems dangerous or over your safe limit for the service drop theres no reason for them to go aroungd causing trouble for folks that maybe might be growing weed, using what they think is an unusual ammount of power. he said they occasionally bill people to put new $8k transformers a with pole for their property if they keep overloading the transformer rated for the area but thats as far as it goes. if youre blowin shit up you better be blowin shit up. as a matte of fact i think i recall him saying they are intentionally very forward about the hands off approach to avoid dangerous situations for meter readers. but to answer your question, you wouldnt even show up on the radar as a heavy power consumer with that. youll be far less than some of the houses around lake travis that dont have any grow lights im sure. i bet your bill already fluctuates that much from month to month as it is. smell leaks and fires are waaaaay more likely to be your biggest security risk in that sort of situation. those being negligible at that.

 

[rob feature]

Only problem I see is TX, hear they are a little ruff on growers...

This

I'm going with risky.

 

[repobird]

I have thought about this too. I am not worried about the amount of current draw, but rather the obvious patterns exhibited by indoor growers. The 18/6 and 12/12 photo period.


With smart meters wirelessly sending usage data now, the power utility could see this 'square tooth' pattern of off on off on. Not that the utility would care... BUT, they do sell this usage information to third-parties. Such as DEA or other law enforcement.

So the DEA could buy all these utility databases and say, return all power meters that exhibit a 12/12 pattern that draw say 2000 kwh/m average. That is what I am concerned about.

One way to mask would be to have two tents, one ON from 5pm to 5am the other ON from 5am to 5pm. At least this would cover the obvious square tooth patterns of energy usage.

 

[repobird]

*square pattern. I was thinking of sawtooth.

 

[xxxstr8edgexxx]

the dea tend to no get involved unless it will yeild a federally prosecutable crime.the dea doesnt involve itself in closet grows. they wont come even if they know for a fact you are growing 25 plants under a light in your closet and indeed selling. 1 light smart meter or no it aint even on the radar. you people are trippin. 1 light in texas in 2014 is just not reasonable to get paranoid about. if you cant calculate and assess risk maybe it isnt the right choice though.

I have thought about this too. I am not worried about the amount of current draw, but rather the obvious patterns exhibited by indoor growers. The 18/6 and 12/12 photo period.


With smart meters wirelessly sending usage data now, the power utility could see this 'square tooth' pattern of off on off on. Not that the utility would care... BUT, they do sell this usage information to third-parties. Such as DEA or other law enforcement.

So the DEA could buy all these utility databases and say, return all power meters that exhibit a 12/12 pattern that draw say 2000 kwh/m average. That is what I am concerned about.

One way to mask would be to have two tents, one ON from 5pm to 5am the other ON from 5am to 5pm. At least this would cover the obvious square tooth patterns of energy usage.

 

[repobird]

st8edge, you missed my point about the current pattern. I specifically said that current amount is not my concern.

I would argue that its more accurate to identify an indoor grower by the pattern of current vs the amount of electricity they are using.

This also has nothing to do with paranoia. But rather that law enforcement has the ability to classify or identify possible growers solely based on patterns of their electrical usage. Even if they have no intent to act, simply the fact they are able to have that knowledge is disturbing. Its a privacy thing.

 

[RandomMan]

He's safeeeeee!

He's safeeeeee!

.im in austin TX...just wondering how safe this would be or if i should be worried about power usage and what not...very conservative with my electrical appliances...and pay all bills on time...thanks!

Your name = Canadian and you live in Texas.... that's crazy (sorry, dumb attempt at a pun on the username. No offense intended)...

Just make sure to pay 'em on time. 1000w is no different than many common household appliances. This is the most conservative chart I could find: http://www.donrowe.com/usage-chart-a/259.htm

Lived in Texas for 30+ years. Lived in Marble Falls for 4-5 years and had many growfriends in ATX area. I'm SURE you're safe. Be more careful with telling people (tell nobody at all) and stinky cabinets. If you live in Austin city limits, you're likely to have neighbors that could smell a stinky plant.... As for your timing of adding components to a Texas electric bill, summertime is just hitting and I'd think all Texans are expected to have an increase energy consumption over the next few months. Just my perspective, hope this helps.

 

[WelderDan]

My 1000 watter, plus veg lights, pumps and whatnot added a whopping $50 to my power bill. Pay your bill on time and you have little to fear.

The two biggest reasons people get busted are Smell and stealing power. Control the odor, and don't steal juice.

 

[amannamedtruth]

I think I heard there are a lot of growers in Austin.

 

[Bob Green]

My 1000 watter, plus veg lights, pumps and whatnot added a whopping $50 to my power bill. Pay your bill on time and you have little to fear.

The two biggest reasons people get busted are Smell and stealing power. Control the odor, and don't steal juice.

I would have to agree exept I think those two fall 2nd & 3rd. I think the #1 reason people get busted is by leaking information(including odor). Keep your mouth shut and be prepared to live a pretty reclusive life if you dont want to get robbed, or busted. Keep in mind robbed is more likley no matter how the people find out.

STAY IN TRAVIS COUNTY!!! Every other county surrounding Austin is hardcore zero tollerance and you will get fucked hard.

Be prepared to hire a lawyer and a good one. Keep in mind a kid in Austin is facing 10 to life for fucking brownies!

Watch out for the flood plain...

Use common sense!

But Austin is an amazing badass place to live!

 

[Bob Green]

I also think good herb is easy to find in Austin and you need to look at your options.

Just something to consider. Places are legalizing fast and within the next 5 years I think Texas will jump on the bandwagon.

Dont travel with any concentrate!

 

[Soulrebel239]

The best advice is to show or tell no one your grow activity. Those smart meters only get you in trouble if you try to remove them. As long as you pay, you can play.

 

[sourpuss]

Worry about stank not power. Deal eith the stank dank and your good. As long as your on your game 24 7 365. Basically this is something you screw up cause your lazy or too stoned to do your work. Could even land you somewhere worse. Stay focused and your good.

Depending on what ypu want a 600 might be fine. I run 600 perpetual. Dont even run it nearly full. Always have more than enough for my wife and I. Also my bro gets freebies. Of course my buddies. I dont sell so that may be the xtra you need with the 1000. Go with 600 if your just about personal.

 

[sourpuss]

Think about power like a business. The hydro companies could crack down and make everyone growing big go outside. If the bills get paid why would they want to do this? Remove large users of power for regular users is counter productive. Money m9ney money. Makes the world go round. Actually can be a good thing some times